The Rolling Stones: Still Life

On June 1, 1982, “Rolling Stones” label released “Still Life” (American Concert 1981), the fourth Rolling Stones (The) live album. It was recorded November – December 1981, March – April 1982, and was produced by Glimmer Twins.

Personnel:

  • Mick Jagger – lead vocals, guitar
  • Keith Richards – guitar, backing vocals
  • Ronnie Wood – guitar, backing vocals
  • Bill Wyman – bass guitar
  • Charlie Watts – drums
  • Ian Stewart – piano
  • Ian McLagan – keyboards
  • Ernie Watts – saxophone
  • Bob Clearmountain – recording
  • David Hewitt – recording
  • Bob Clearmountain – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Kazuhide Yamazaki – cover painting

Track listing:

All tracks by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

  1. Intro: Take the ‘A’ Train – Billy Strayhorn
  2. Under My Thumb
  3. Let’s Spend the Night Together
  4. Shattered
  5. Twenty Flight Rock – Eddie Cochran, Ned Fairchild
  6. Going to a Go-Go – William Robinson, Warren Moore, Robert Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
  7. Let Me Go
  8. Time Is on My Side – Norman Meade
  9. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) – Norman Whitfield, Berrett Strong
  10. Start Me Up
  11. I Can’t Get No Satisfaction
  12. Outro: Star Spangled Banner – traditional, arranged by Jimi Hendrix

Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace

On June 1, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Amazing Grace”, the fourth Aretha Franklin live album. It was recorded in January 1972, at the “New Temple Missionary Baptist Church”, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Aretha Franklin and Arif Mardin. In 1973, Aretha Franklin won “Grammy Award” for “Best Soul Gospel Performance”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, piano, celesta, arrangements
  • Rev. C.L. Franklin – vocals
  • Rev. James Cleveland – lead vocals, piano, choir director
  • Rev. Alexander Hamilton – choir director assistant
  • Kenneth “Ken” Lupper – organ, additional keyboards
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Chuck Rainey – bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Pancho Morales – congas, additional percussion
  • Southern California Community Choir – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – music editing, remix
  • Wally Heider – recording
  • Jimmy Douglass – recording assistant
  • Gene Paul – recording assistant
  • George Piros – recording assistant
  • Ray Thompson – recording

Track listing:

  1. Mary, Don’t You Weep – spiritual
  2. Medley: Precious Lord, Take My Hand / You’ve Hot a Friend – Thomas A. Dorsey, Frank Frazier / Carole King
  3. Old Landmark – W. Herbert Brewster, Adeline M. Brunner
  4. Give Yourself to Jesus – Robert Fryson
  5. How I Got Over – Clara Ward
  6. What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Joseph M. Seriven, Charles Crozat Converse
  7. Amazing Grace – John Newton
  8. Precious Memories – J.B.F. Wright
  9. Climbing Higher Mountains – traditional
  10. Remarks by Reverend C.L. Franklin
  11. God Will Take Care of You – traditional
  12. Wholy Holy – Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland
  13. You’ll Never Walk Alone – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  14. Never Grow Old – traditional

Richard Thompson: Ship To Shore

On May 31, 2024, “New West” label released “Ship to Shore”, the 27th Richard Thompson studio album. It was recorded in 2024, at “Applehead Studio” in Woodstock, New York, and was produced by Richard Thompson.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson – vocals, guitars, mandolin, accordion
  • Bobby Eichhorn – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Taras Prodaniuk – bass guitar
  • Michael Jerome – drums, percussion
  • David Mansfield – fiddle
  • Zara Phillips – harmony vocals
  • Chris Bittner – engineer
  • Chris Athens – mastering
  • Tom Bejgrowicz (Man Alive Creative) – design, layout
  • Michael Dicken – cover art illustration
  • David Kaptein – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Thompson.

  1. Freeze
  2. The Fear Never Leaves You
  3. Singapore Sadie
  4. Trust
  5. The Day That I Give In
  6. The Old Pack Mule
  7. Turnstile Casanova
  8. Lost in the Crowd
  9. Maybe
  10. Life’s a Bloody Show
  11. What’s Left to Lose
  12. We Roll

Michael Franks: Blue Pacific

On May 31, 1990, “Reprise” label released “Blue Pacific”, the eleventh Michael Franks album. It was recorded 1989 – 1990, at “JHL Sound” in Pacific Palisades, California, “Studio Ultimo” and “Soundworks West” in Los Angeles, “Ground Control Studios” in Burbank, California, “Ocean Way” and “Cherokee Studios” in Hollywood, “Larrabee Sound Studios” and “Schnee Studios” in North Hollywood, and was produced by Walter Becker, Tommy LiPumma and Jeff Lorber.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Buzz Feiten – guitars, acoustic guitar
  • Dean Parks – electric guitar
  • Larry Carlton – guitars
  • Michael Thompson – guitars
  • Jeff Lorber – keyboards, programming, arrangements
  • John Beasley – keyboards
  • Joe Sample – acoustic piano
  • Larry Williams – synthesizer programming, synthesizer arrangements
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • ‘Ready’ Freddie Washington – bass
  • John Patitucci – bass
  • Sean Franks – cymbals
  • Peter Erskine – drums
  • John Guerin – drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Alex Acuña – percussion
  • Michael Fisher – percussion
  • Marc Russo – alto saxophone
  • Bob Sheppard – tenor saxophone
  • Kirk Whalum – tenor saxophone
  • Bunny Hull – backing vocals
  • Brenda Russell – backing vocals
  • Kareem – backing vocals
  • Livingston Taylor – backing vocals
  • Jeff Lorber – recording
  • Eric Rudd – recording assistant
  • Roger Nichols – recording, mixing
  • Al Schmitt – recording, additional recording
  • Chris Fuhrman – additional recording assistant
  • Tom Hardisty – recording assistant
  • Scott Ralston – recording assistant
  • Clif Norrell – recording assistant
  • Joey Wolpert – additional recording
  • Ed Torgerson – additional recording assistant
  • Gabe Moffat – additional recording assistant
  • Bill Schnee – mixing
  • Alan Meyerson – mixing
  • Neal Pogue – mixing assistant
  • Ken Allardyce – mixing assistant
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Sonny Abelardo – production coordinator
  • Carol Parks – production coordinator
  • Jeri and John Heiden – art direction, design
  • Kip Lott – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks.

  1. The Art of Love
  2. Woman in the Wave
  3. All I Need
  4. Long Slow Dance
  5. Vincent’s Ear
  6. Speak to Me
  7. On the Inside
  8. Chez Nous
  9. Blue Pacific
  10. Crayon Sun (Safe at Home)

Kevin Ayers: The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories

In May 1974, “Island” label released “The Confessions of Dr.Dream and Other Stories”, the fifth Kevin Ayers studio album. It was recorded February – March 1974, at “AIR Studios” and “Ramport Studios” in London, and was produced by Rupert Hine.

Personnel:

  • Kevin Ayers – vocals, guitars, piano, organ
  • Nico – vocals
  • Mark Warner – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Sam Mitchell – electric guitar
  • Ollie Halsall – electric guitar solo
  • Cal Batchelor – electric guitar
  • Mike Oldfield – electric guitar solo
  • Henry Crallan – piano
  • Mike Moran – piano
  •  Rupert Hine – keyboards
  • Steve Nye – organ, electric piano
  • Mike Ratledge – organ
  • John Perry – bass
  • John Gustafson – bass
  • Trevor Jones – bass
  • Michael Giles – drums
  • The G’Deevy Ensemble – percussion
  • Ray Cooper – percussion
  • Lol Coxhill – alto saxophone
  • Doris Troy, Rosetta Hightower, Joanne Williams – backing vocals
  • Sean Milligan – backing vocals
  • Hulloo Choir – backing vocals
  • John Punter – engineer
  • Steve Nye – engineer
  • Gerry Leitch, Sean Milligan – engineer assistant
  • Simon Jeffes – additional brass arrangements
  • George Smith, James Wedge – illustration

Track listing:

All tracks by Kevin Ayers.

  1. Day By Day
  2. See You Later
  3. Didn’t Feel Lonely Till I Thought of You
  4. Everybody’s Sometime and Some People’s All the Times Blues
  5. It Begins with a Blessing / Once I Awakened / But It Ends with a Curse
  6. Ballbearing Blues
  7. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 1: Irreversible Neural Damage
  8. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 2: Invitation
  9. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 2: The One Chance Dance
  10. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 4: Doctor Dream Theme
  11. Two Goes into Four

The Flying Burrito Brothers: Last Of the Red Hot Burritos

In May 1972, “A&M” label released “Last of the Red Hot Burritos”, the fourth Flying Burrito Brothers (The) album. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Jim Dickson.

Personnel:

  1. Chris Hillman – vocals, bass, mandolin
  2. Rick Roberts – vocals, rhythm guitar
  3. Al Perkins – pedal steel guitar, lead electric guitar
  4. Kenny Wertz – vocals, guitar, banjo
  5. Michael Clarke – drums
  6. Byron Berline – fiddle
  7. Roger Bush – vocals, acoustic bass, acoustic guitar
  8. Earl P. Ball or Spooner Oldham – piano

Track listing:

  1. Christine’s Tune – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  2. Six Days on the Road – Earl Green, Carl Montgomery
  3. My Uncle – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  4. Dixie Breakdown – Jimmie Lunceford, Don Reno
  5. Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down – Louise Certain, Gladys Stacey Flatt, Jerry Organ, Wayne Walker
  6. Orange Blossom Special – Ervin T. Rouse
  7. Ain’t That a Lot of Love – Homer Banks, Deanie Parker
  8. High Fashion Queen – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  9. Don’t Forget It – Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper
  10. Hot Burrito #2 – Chris Ethridge, Gram Parsons
  11. Losing Game – James Carr, Dennis Weaver

Herbie Hancock: Crossings

In May 1972, “Warner Bros” label released “Crossings”, the tenth Herbie Hancock album. It was recorded in February 1972, at “Pacific” in San Mateo, and was produced by David Rubinson.

Personnel:

  • Herbie Hancock – piano, electric piano, mellotron, percussion
  • Bennie Maupin – soprano saxophone, alto flute, bass clarinet, piccolo, percussion
  • Eddie Henderson – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
  • Julian Priester – tenor and alto trombones, bass, percussion
  • Buster Williams – bass guitar, double bass, percussion
  • Billy Hart – drums, percussion
  • Patrick Gleeson – Moog synthesizer, mellotron
  • Victor Pantoja – congas
  • Candy Love, Sandra Stevens, Della Horne, Victoria Domagalski, Scott Beach – voices

Track listing:

  1. Sleeping Giant – Herbie Hancock
  2. Quasar – Bennie Maupin
  3. Water Torture – Bennie Maupin

Al Foster

On May 28, 2025, Aloysius Tyrone Foster aka Al Foster, died aged 82. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Blue Mitchell, Illinois Jacquet, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Joe Henderson, Joanne Brackeen, Cedar Walton, Larry Willis, Steve Kuhn, Tommy Flanagan, Chris Potter, George Adams, Richie Beirach, Peter Bernstein, Walter Bishop Jr, Donald Byrn, Eli Degibri, Eliane Elias, Eric Le Lann, Red Garland, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Haden, Sadik Hakim, Jimmy Heath, Duke Jordan, Shirley Horn, Bobby Hutcherson, Sam Jones, Yusef Lateef, Andy LaVerne, Abbey Lincoln, Fred Lipsius, Larry Willis, George Mraz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Joe Lovano, Frank Morgan, Johnny Lytle, Hugh Masakela, Ronnie Mathews, Tete Montoliu, Sam Morrison, Bud Shank, Reggie Workman, Peter Zak, Cecil Payne, Dave Liebman and Art Pepper. As leader, Foster released eighth albums.

John Mayall: A Special Life

On May 30, 2014, “Forty Below” label released “A Special Life”, the 33rd John Mayall album. It was recorded in November 2013, and was produced by John Mayall and Eric Corne.

Personnel:

  • John Mayall – vocals, guitars, harmonica, organ, piano
  • Rocky Athas – guitars
  • C. J. Chenier – vocals, accordion
  • Greg Rzab – bass guitar, percussions
  • Jay Davenport – drums

Track listing:

  1. Why Did You Go Last Night – Clifton Chenier
  2. Speak of the Devil – Sonny Landreth
  3. That’s All Right – James Lane
  4. World Gone Crazy – John Mayall
  5. Floodin’ in California – Albert King
  6. Big Town Playboy – Eddie Taylor
  7. A Special Life – John Mayall
  8. I Just Got to Know – Jimmy McCracklin
  9. Heartache – John Mayall
  10. Like a Fool – Greg Rzab, Rocky Athas
  11. Just a Memory – John Mayall

Velvet Underground: Live At Max’s Kansas City

On May 30, 1972, “Cotillion” label released “Live at Max’s Kansas City”, the first Velvet Underground  live album. It was recorded on August 23, 1970, at “Max’s Kansas City” in New York City, and was produced by Geoff Haslam.

Personnel:

  • Lou Reed – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Sterling Morrison – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Doug Yule – vocal, bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Yule – drums, cowbell

Track listing:

All tracks by Lou Reed, except where noted.

  1. I’m Waiting for the Man
  2. Sweet Jane
  3. Lonesome Cowboy Bill
  4. Beginning to See the Light
  5. I’ll Be Your Mirror
  6. Pale Blue Eyes
  7. Sunday Morning – Lou Reed, John Cale
  8. New Age
  9. Femme Fatale
  10. After Hours

musicalphabet